Utility to provide Thanksgiving to victims of gas disaster

November 11, 2018

LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP) — The utility behind the natural gas explosions in Massachusetts in September is planning to provide 20,000 hot Thanksgiving dinners to residents who have still not returned to their homes.

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera says meals provided by Columbia Gas will be served at the temporary trailer parks where some residents are being housed as well as at a hall in Lawrence. There will also be several takeout locations.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker says more than 2,000 families, or about 7,500 people, are currently in temporary housing.

The disaster killed one person and injured dozens of others in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, and destroyed or damaged more than 100 homes. Thousands of homes and businesses lost gas service.